Cold Weather Keeps Fire Fighters Busy

by Ellis Eskew

Montgomery fire fighters run through training exercises, practicing the fundamentals of fire fighting.
The past few days have kept their skills in high demand.

“It’s a been a very busy winter. Have a lot of people trying to find various means of heat. Therefore our run volume has gone up,” says Lt. Herman Dudley.

Tuesday evening… this home in the 200 block of Harmon Street  caught fire with the family still inside. No one was injured, but there was heavy fire and smoke damage.

Wednesday morning a single story duplex in the 700 block of Drivers Row caught fire.
It was also heavily damaged by smoke and fire.
 
Thursday, there was an early morning house fire in the 2000 block of East Fifth street.
Montgomery Fire officials tell us the family was home at the time of the fire, but no one was injured.
The house received heavy damage on the first floor.

Another fire this Thursday afternoon on Thrasher Street also caused heavy damage.
No one was home during the fire.

While all of these fires are still under investigation, fire officials say many are caused by some of the same sources.

“You got people using space heaters, fire places, electrical… just trying to stay warm,” said Dudley.

And many are from heat sources left on.

“Some of the fires that I’ve been to are because of food left unattended and caused their house to end up burning,” said fire fighter Brent Warren.  “If you leave for any reason, make sure you turn the store off. If you have any sort of heat source on turn it off. Try to keep your house as secure as you can.”